Explosive shell



R. N. 100K. EXPLOSIVE SHELL.

APPLICATION H LED MAY 16. 19I8.

1,367,464. Patented Feb.- 1, 1921.-

WITNESSES INVENTOR ROBERT N. COOK, F AS?INWAI .|L, PENNSYLVANIA.

nxrLosIvE SHELL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1, 1921.

Application filed May 16, 1918. Serial No. 234,975.

T 0 all whom it may concern Be it known that I, BonnnrN. CooK, a citizenof the United States, residing at Asginwall, in the county of Alleghenyand specification.

My invention consists of an improvement in explosive projectiles, of thegeneral class adapted to be propelled to any deslred point, and to beexploded by ignltlon of a time fuse. The device is adapted and intendedfor use in connection with a firing gun of suitable design andproportions, generally similar to the usual breech loadlng rifle or shotgun, but of a gage sufiiclently large to admit of the insertion in thebreech of the entire projectile and its cartrldge shell.

The device, in its entirety, comprises acartridge shell containing asufiicient amount of explosive material as powder, and the projectileitself, interfitting with the shell, and adapted to be propelled bydischarge of the cartridge through the barrel of the gun as directedtoward any point of use, the projectile itself containing a time fusewh1ch 1s ignited by the primary cartridge dlscharge, and a priming and amain body of explos ve substance adapted to explode the projectile inthe manner of such devices, or similar to shrapnel shells.

Referring to the drawings, illustrating preferred embodiments of theinvent10n:

Figure l is a central longitudinal sectional view of the entireprojectile, of substantially full size;

Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view on the line II II of Fig. l; and

l ig. 3 is a sectional partial detail view similar to Fig. l but showinga modified construction.

In the drawings, 2 is the cartridge shell adapted to be inserted in thebreech of the firing gun and fired in the usual way by primer 3. 4 isthe shell itself comprlsing a hollow casing, the walls of which aresufiiciently thin and of a suitable material adapting it to be brokeninto a number of fragmentary pieces upon internal explosion. If desired,the shell may be grooved or weakened in any suitable manner, asindicated at 6, as is customary in devices of this type whereby tofacilitate its separation into small fragments upon explosion.

The rear end of the shell is in interfitting telescoping engagement withthe outer end of shell 2, as indicated at 5, so that when assembled theentire device resembles an ordinary cartridge, and is adapted to fitwithin the breech and barrel of the firing gun. The

other end of the shell 4 may, if desired, be rounded as shown, or shapedin any other.

suitable manner. The ends of the device are closed'by terminal walls 7,and 8 respec-.

in the rear head 8 by screw threaded engage.

ment, as at 10, and a turning head '11 with an intervening packinggasket 12 of asbesto or other suitable material. I -.;-Tube 9 providesby its centralopening for a priming charge 13,, of suitable, explosivematerial, as powder, and an igniting fuse 1a extends from the rear endof the shell forwardly and terminates at any desired point, dependingupon the length of the fuse and the desired time of explosion.

The forward terminal of the fuse extends into the priming charge 13 andits other terminal extends into the contents of cartridge shell 2,whereby it is immediately ignited upon explosion of the powder, or othercharge therein.

The main interior body of the shell is filled with a highly explosivematerial 15, as powder, dynamite, T. N. T., or other suitable substance,and this main charge is ignited by the priming charge 13 through theinner terminal opening'of the tube 9, which is temporarily closed byathin cap 16 of lead or tin. The main explosive charge 15 is insertedwithin the shell through a central opening at its outer end, which isthen closed by a screw plug 17.

Said plug is centrally hollow and is provided with a spring 18 and aterminal disk 19 retained in position by turned over lugs 20 of the plugshell. The object of such construction is to provide a resilientcompensation for internal expansion, the device also providing in itselfa separable shrapnel element upon explosion.

In Fig. 3 I show a modified construction in which the tube 9 is providedwith a very thin wall portion 21, as by grinding the tube at one side,providing a weakened portion which will be blown out upon ignition oftheexplosive 13 and exploding the main charge 15 when ignited by the fuse14*. Such modification may be used either with or without the temporaryclosing cap 16 as desired.

With either construction, upon firing the shell, the time fuse, ofsuitable length, will effect explosion of the priming and main chargesat the desired time limit, whereupon, the shell will be exploded at thetime and location intended. 'lhe matter of locating the point ofdischarge of the shell is greatly facilitated, and its range of travelis much amplified,and accuracyof placement is practically insured, bymaking it'in the manner described, so that it can be fired from a gun inthe manner of an ordinary bullet or other projectile. The gun itself maybe of simple, light, and easily portable construction, and needs nofurther description.

The shell may be made of any desired or suitable dimensions, design, orquality of material, adapting it to its intended use, and may befurnished with time fuses of varyin length, suitably indicated on theshell itself so as to adapt it to selective use at different ranges.

The invention may be variously changed and modified by the skilledmechanic in different details of construction, design or other features,but all such changes are to be considered as within the scope of thefollowing claims.

hat I claim is 1. In combination, a main explosive shell having itsinterior surface provided with series of weakening grooves forfacilitating explosive fracture of the main shell, :1. breech shelltelescopically engaging the main shell and provided with a mainpropelling charge and an igniting cap, a fuse conduit extending from theinterior of the breech shell to the interior of the main shell havingwithin its rear portion a fuse and within its forward portion a primaryexplosive charge, and a conmpensator in the main shell.

2. In an explosive projectile, a main explosive shell havinganiexplosive charge and a terminal closure provided with an elasticcompensator, a firing breech shell having a propelling charge, a conduitextending from the breech shell charge to the explosive shell chargehaving a priming charge, and a fuse adapted to ignitesaid priming chargefrom the breech shell charge.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

ROBERT N. COOK.

